What motivated you to become a writer?

The “spirit of the spec,” as coined by Scott Myers. It’s this drive (or need) to tell stories, and it has always been a part of me. Most people give up pursuing a screenwriting career given the odds of success, but you can’t give up if you have the “spirit of the spec.” The stories must be told. Some call it passion, others a curse. I think it’s both.

Starting on a blank page is not easy- where does your creativity come from?

It all starts with one scene or a moment of a scene that won’t let go. It sticks with me for weeks or months on end. That’s when I know I need to develop it into a full story. I view creativity through a Jungian lens, so for me, the finished story exists in the collective unconscious—my job is to pull it out and put it on the page. This is why I always go through a full development process. I create what I call a “story map,” which contains all the necessary elements for me to write the script. The actual writing comes easily afterward.

Do you write projects knowing that so many other factors need to happen to get it to screen and does that come into your project creation?

Yes. Thanks to my experience as a director and producer, I tend to keep production and budget in mind. I also stay focused on commercial sensibilities and the audience—though that part comes naturally to me, since I’m primarily interested in writing commercial, high-concept stories. I also develop and write stories for indie comics and video game projects, and if one wishes to succeed, the market cannot be ignored.

What is your dream for this project and what other ancillary revenue do you think it could generate?

My dream is to see it on the big screen. My feature script is called MAJOR LEAGUE DRONES and the title says it all: it’s a four-quadrant sci-fi action-adventure. It’s SPEED RACER meets KARATE KID—a family drama set against the backdrop of near-future drone racing. The potential for ancillary revenue includes merchandise and licensing, from video games to even a theme park ride. The IP is very commercially viable.

How has your experience been with screenwriting contests for this project so far?

Pretty good so far, MAJOR LEAGUE DRONES scored 2nd place and nine additional finalist placements across various contests. There’s always a random element with contest readers—not every screenplay is for everyone—but overall, the contests have been good to the project.

If you could stand in a room full of investor partners looking at many projects what would you like them to know about you and this project?

If you’ve read this far, then you’ve probably noticed I’m not your typical screenwriter. Most screenwriters I meet want to do personal arthouse projects. But I grew up on ’80s Hollywood, Hong Kong action cinema, and lots of anime. I love high-concept material. To me, action tells a personal story.

MAJOR LEAGUE DRONES is a high-octane thrill ride where every race is themed. The 9 Circles is the main event—a robotic recreation of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Pilots race their drones through cybernetic hell; it’s robot wars on steroids. But at the same time, every race is a personal struggle for the protagonist. Jake comes from a renowned F1 racing family, but because of his disinterest in driving, his family’s legacy now rests on the wings of a drone. Because action is character. That’s how I like it and how most audiences like it too.

Do you have any website links for your writing, credits, background, etc that you would like to share

Yes. To quote George Carlin, “all my stuff” can be found here: https://www.selvirkatich.com/